The Pastry Chef’s Journey to the Western Pure Land
An Interview with the Spirit of a Scone
Recorded on December 22, 2018
December 22, 2018
The Radiance of the
I have arrived. From the moment we gathered together yesterday, were shaped, and placed into the oven, we exerted all our efforts to release the unique fragrance within us. We had never seen such a bright and luminous place before; the soft, gentle light here is so incredibly warm. We heard the sound of Namo Amituofo playing through the speakers. It was that very sound that allowed us to hear the voices in this space and to see the people gathered here. We have come to understand that this process is what is known as open up space.
This morning, we also heard the voice of Practitioner Su speaking to everyone. When we heard that Practitioner Su wished to interview the scone, we were filled with such a wondrous and curious feeling. The gentleman who was present chose me to be the one to receive this interview, and my fellow scones applauded for me. I am truly grateful to that gentleman for this opportunity.
A Pastry Chef’s Unfinished Journey
My name is Marian. In my previous life, I was a pastry chef. I was a bit plump, and my children affectionately called me Mommy. I owned my own little bakery. I had a group of wonderful neighbours who would come to the shop every afternoon for tea, and life was very comfortable and pleasant. However, due to high blood pressure and chest pain, I collapsed in the shop one day. In my dazed and confused state, I smelled the waves of fragrance drifting from the oven. I thought back to the moments I had just spent baking, and as I became immersed in those memories, my spirit unexpectedly entered into the ingredients of the pastries. That was a very, very long time ago.
Finding Peace in the Midst of Change
I have lived a very happy life. Every single day, at every moment, I would transform into different pastries. Sometimes, I would even try to send messages to the bakers, telling them how to make the pastries even more fragrant or how to improve their appearance. However, they could not receive my messages, so I had to learn to let go and follow the conditions as they arose. Sometimes I would hear the praise of the customers, and other times I would hear some criticisms. It did not matter; my optimistic nature allowed me to accept both praise and criticism with an open heart.
The lady who was here yesterday was so nimble and skilled. She handled the ingredients with such ease and grace, truly bringing out the best flavour in all of us. Our companions were all so happy. I would like to thank everyone! The oven also asked me to tell you all that it loves the sound of Namo Amituofo. Please remember to keep the speakers turned on.
The Call to the Western Pure Land
Venerable HaiZe then offered guidance to the spirit: To the scone, and to all the various ingredients and the oven, thank you for your message. If you wish to have memorial tablets written, you may go to the -Nature Land to listen to the Dharma talks given by Practitioner Su. There, you can also hear the continuous, unending sound of the Holy Name "Namo Amituofo". You may also travel to the bright and luminous Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
Upon hearing this, the spirit of the scone replied with : Yes! Yes! We want to go to the bright and luminous Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
This interview was recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library